Voyage With Jason: Part 4

By KEN CATRAN, Illustrator NICK STATHOPOULOS

If I said this to Thegus, he would just kick me. Anyway, he was a master craftsman and must have known. So I cut and chipped with my bronze hammer and chisel but it was useless. The wood was too green and would shrink when dry. The planks it held would loosen and let in the sea. I kept cutting, gashing my hand once.At sunset, Thegus banged his hammer on the deck to cease work. The workers left quickly enough and Thegus's black shadow came across me again. I still had twenty pegs to cut but threw down my chisel and turned.

'Foreman Thegus, this wood is no good for pegs,' I said. Thegus squatted, his hairy legs wide under his leather kilt. He puffed his blotchy cheeks and smirked. I was expecting to be kicked and his answer surprised me.'Of course not, Pylos.' Even using my name. 'The first storm-wave will let in Sea-God Poseidon's anger. All will drown.'

Publisher: Lothian

Price: $17.95

Age group: 11 years plus